A consortium of commercial and academic organisations have launched a three-year project, ‘Transformative Reduced Inputs in Potatoes’ (TRIP), funded by Innovate UK. ERL will be asking farmers, growers and industry experts at the biannual Potato Event 2023 on the 22nd& 23rd November to cast their vote on whether they think it is possible to grow potatoes regeneratively on a commercial basis with the three response choices:-
- Yes – it is possible to commercially grow potatoes regeneratively.
- There is a middle position for potatoes to be part of a ‘regenerative rotation’.
- No – it is not possible to grow potatoes regenerative at a commercial level.
During the course of the three-year TRIP field trials, ERL’s OptiYield soil analysis, nutrient recommendations and product formulations will be used and evaluated against standard farming programmes and a number of different nitrogen and phosphate regimes.
One aim of the project is to evaluate using alternative application methods and approaches to see if it is possible to reduce the total overall inputs consumed by the crop while still achieving a commercially saleable crop – aiding profitability and sustainability.
The first full set of TRIP field trial results will be published at the event. This year’s trials tested a number of variable combinations :-
- Base nutrition provided by FYM, green waste and a reduction in nitrogen of 50%
- Fungicide or biological approach with either Maxim and Amistar or Consortium
- Foliar nutrition applications
- Additional foliar – Blight programme or Diamond
Visitors to the Potato Event can look in on stand 193 and talk to ERL about how they see the future of regenerative potato production, cast a vote and see TRIP’s first year’s trial results.
